Your skin is the largest organ on your body, so protecting it from the sometimes harsh sun is crucial. If you're out and about this summer, you should arm yourself against the sun and its damaging rays.

The Causes of Sunburns

Sunburns—which are literally burns on your skin—are caused by exposing yourself to too much ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Contrary to the image of most beach bums we conjure up in our heads, you don't have to lay out all day in the beach just to get one. It doesn't take long to get sunburned: you can develop a sunburn after only 30 minutes out in the sun.

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There are three types of ultraviolet rays, and although you can't see them, they are classified according to wavelength. Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are the only ones that affect you, while ultraviolet C (UVC) rays never reach the earth. Both UVA and UVB rays are responsible for damaging your skin, causing sunburn and wrinkles, but UVB is more dangerous and can lead to skin cancer. The sun isn't the only thing that can cause ultraviolet rays: tanning beds produce both kinds of UVA and UVB rays.

Sunburns are caused by ultraviolet rays, and it doesn't matter if the sun is out or not. It could be cloudy or even hazy, and as much as 90 percent of ultraviolet rays can still pass through. In addition, ultraviolet rays can reflect off snow, ice, sand, water and other surfaces, making it almost as bad as direct sunlight. (That's not to say all sun is bad; limited exposure to ultraviolet rays produces beneficial vitamin D.)

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When the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, it speeds up its production of melanin. Melanin is designed to protect your skin and gives your skin its normal color, but the extra melanin creates the darker color of a tan. A tan is the body's first line of protection against sunburn and skin damage. The amount of melanin is determined by your genes, but most people can't produce enough to protect the largest organ on their body. What happens next isn't rocket science: because the skin can't protect itself well enough, a sunburn is the result.

Unfortunately, certain people and regions are at more risk than others. The southern United States, regions around the Equator, and places with high altitudes generally offer a higher risk of being sunburned. In addition, light-skinned and fair-haired people can also have a higher chance. Certain drugs like antibiotics and birth control pills can also make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

How To Check The UV Index

If you have a long day ahead of you outdoors, it's wise to check the UV index before you head outside. The UV index measures how strong the ultraviolet radiation is at particular places during particular days. It operates on a scale of 1 to 11+, with a rating of 1 being considered very low.

The U.S. government's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a web site set up so that you can check the strength of ultraviolet rays in your area. In addition to an accompanying mobile site, there's also a BlackBerry and Android application available. The site checks the strength of the sun's ultraviolet rays for the current day for solar noon, when the sun is at its strongest. In addition to that information, the EPA web site details what kind of precautions you should take to prevent sunburn for those circumstances. The web site will also forecast the UV situation for the next three days.

Preventing Sunburns

Avoid the Sun between 10 and 4: To prevent nasty sunburns, try to stay out of the sun when it is at its strongest, which is usually between 10 AM and 4 PM. Look for shade when you can, and like we said before, the sun isn't the only culprit you have to watch out for.

Wear Protective Clothing: If it's possible (and not too hot outside), wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts, hats, and sunglasses. That can be difficult when it's really hot, so applying the right sunscreen is important. If you're not sure which sunblock is the best, Consumer Reports has a report on the four best sunscreens currently available on the market.

Properly apply your sunscreen: Make sure that all exposed skin uses sunblock with a minimum of SPF 15. The sunblock should protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Buying sunscreens with high SPF doesn't really help; it actually depends on the amount that you put on. A New York Times article says it best:

Even if you're truly light-skinned, buying an expensive sunblock with a super-high SPF rating…
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To get the SPF advertised, you must use a full shot glass on your body. That's an ounce, which means a three-ounce tube should last, at most, a few outings. ... "If people are putting on about half, they are receiving half the protection," said Yohini Appa, the senior director of scientific affairs at Johnson & Johnson, of which Neutrogena is a subsidiary.

Even if the sunscreen says that it lasts all day long, don't believe it. In an effort to boost up sunscreen marketing efforts, that may not be true at all, so don't be afraid to slather all over yourself when you feel it's necessary. The EPA web site, in fact, even suggests reapplying sunscreen every two hours, even when it's cloudy out under normal circumstances.

When It's Too Late: Soothing Your Burnt Skin

So your skin got burnt anyways. There are a few things that you can do to soothe your skin and ease the pain. While your skin will have to effectively heal on its own (for instance, there's not much that you can do once your skin begins to peel), there are a couple of things that you can do to alleviate the pain and irritation.

The simple route: Medical sites MayoClinic and WebMD suggest taking cool baths or showers frequently to help with the heat. You can also apply a cool, clean cloth to the affected area. Moisturizing lotions (preferably with aloe vera), or just plain aloe vera helps with the burn.

It's actually possible to use over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen to alleviate the pain. If your sunburn is severe enough, don't hesitate to go to a doctor.

Sunburns can cause a mild fever and headaches, due to dehydration. If this is the case, drink fluids and lie down in a cool, quiet room. Dehydration is also another possible side effect of sunburn or staying out in the sun for too long. So, make sure to keep hydrated while you're out and about.

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If your sunburn is severe enough to have formed blisters, you should leave them alone so that it will not get infected to heal faster. If they do happen to burst by themselves, an antibacterial ointment should be applied to the exposed areas.

Soothing home remedies: Not every home remedy is worth its weight, but we've heard in the past that oatmeal and black tea baths can all help soothe your skin while you recover. But be wary of home remedies; some, like those including petroleum jelly or butter, may actually slow down or delay the healing. And remember, none of these are cures. If you're burnt, your burnt. They just aim to help soothe the pain.

Blogger Tim Matheson points out a tip for taking the edge off a summer sunburn with a little…
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Sunburns aren't the only thing that can ruin your summer—learn how to deal with the bugs, too. Here's to enjoying the summer and sunshine the right way, without all the nasty things that come with it. Surf's up!